First-time Parents Grateful for New Level 3 NICU

The future Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) at Silver Cross Hospital has been discussed at length, most recently at the Silver Cross Community Trustee Luncheon in July, where special guests were invited to share their stories and experiences.

Sharing a parents' perspective of why our community needs this NICU, first-time parents, Erin and Andrew Mustoe, poignantly described the harrowing ordeal of an unexpected early delivery of their baby.

When Erin developed eclampsia, baby Adeline was born at just 24 weeks gestation. Weighing only 1 lb., 3 oz., “Addie” was stabilized immediately at Silver Cross before being transported to Chicago to Lurie Children’s Hospital, where she unfortunately needed to be ventilated.

After Erin’s 10-day-long recovery at Silver Cross, she and Andrew made an almost daily commute to see their baby for the next six months. With Andrew being a firefighter, there were many days he didn’t get to see his daughter at all.

Photo caption left: Baby Adeline was born prematurely weighing just over a pound requiring critical care.  Her parents, Erin and Andrew Mustoe, are advocates for bringing a neonatal intensive care unit to Will County so other parents won’t need to travel far for to be with their newborn for weeks – even months. 

“While we will be eternally grateful for the wonderful care that Addie received at Lurie Children’s Hospital, that very same care will be available right in our community at Silver Cross Hospital,” Erin shared. “The teams of specialists that served her so well will be assembled in our community, keeping families together while they grow.”

“Let the story of her birth, hospital stay, and ultimately, her healthy discharge, encourage and excite us for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to come to Silver Cross Hospital."